Chronic Kidney Disease Associated PruritusMADRIDNCT07312916
Effect of Hand Massage on Chronic Kidney Disease Associated Pruritus in Patients Receiving Hemodialysis
A study testing Hand-massage in people with Chronic Kidney Disease Associated Pruritus, run by University of Applied Sciences of Western Switzerland at 4 sites in Switzerland.
Trial summary
Chronic Kidney Disease-Associated Pruritus (CKD-aP) affects about 25% of Swiss hemodialysis patients, most with moderate to severe itching. It negatively impacts sleep, quality of life, and survival. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 years and older
- Conditions the study is for
- Chronic Kidney Disease Associated Pruritus
- What is being tested?
- Hand-massage
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 54 participants
- Where
- 4 sitesSwitzerland
- Study dates
- 17 Dec 2025to 30 Jun 2027
- Phase
- Interventional
- Are there results?
- Not yet: the study is under way
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 18 years and older
- All sexes
- No healthy volunteers
- Adult, Older adult
Who may be able to join
- Adults ≥18 years
- on hemodialysis ≥ three months
- able to communicate in French
- diagnosed with CKD-aP based on VAS
- signed informed consent
Who cannot join
- Participants with cognitive impairment -
- participants who have been prescribed CKD-aP medications after enrollment in study.
Trial locations and contacts
4 sites in 1 country. Contact the study team or a site near you to ask about taking part.
Michael Cordey, MS contact
Switzerland4 sites, 4 recruiting
- Not yet recruiting
HUG
Geneva, 1205
Emma Ollier
emma.ollier@hug.ch
- Recruiting
CHUV
Lausanne, Canton of Vaud, 1011
Jerome Pays
Jerome.Pays@chuv.ch
- Recruiting
Dialyse Riviera
Vevey, Canton of Vaud, 1800
Michael Esteves
michael.esteves@dialyse-riviera.ch
- Recruiting
Etablissements hospitaliers du Nord Vaudois - Hôoital d'Yverdon-les-Bains eHnv
Yverdon-les-Bains, Canton of Vaud, 1400
Pauline Van Der Weid, BSN, +41244245225, pauline.vanderweid@ehnv.ch
About this study
Official title: Effect of Hand Massage on Chronic Kidney Disease Associated Pruritus in Patients Receiving Hemodialysis: a Mixed Methods Study
Chronic Kidney Disease-Associated Pruritus (CKD-aP) affects about 25% of Swiss hemodialysis patients, most with moderate to severe itching. It negatively impacts sleep, quality of life, and survival. This mixed-methods study will investigate the effect hand massage delivered by nurses on the itch severity, health-related quality of life and sleep compared to usual care in patients on hemodialysis. Fifty-four patients will be randomized to receive either hand massage or verbal attention over three months. Quantitative data (NRS, 5D Itch Scale, KDQOL-SFv1.2) will be collected at baseline, one, and three months. Qualitative interviews with 12 participants who received the hand massage intervention, will explore their experiences. The intervention is safe, non-invasive, and may offer valuable insights into CKD-aP management and pathogenesis.
Read the detailed description
Chronic Kidney Disease Associated Pruritus (CKD-aP) represents a distressing skin itch symptom that affects 20-42% of adults on dialysis. We recently conducted the first CKD-aP prevalence study in Switzerland. Results showed that 25% of individuals on hemodialysis experience CKD-aP with 80% suffering from moderate to severe itching. CKD-aP is associated with sleep disturbances, compromised quality of life, social isolation and increased risk of hospitalization and death. CKD-aP may be related to increased uremic toxins, endogenous opioid or immune system dysregulation, peripheral neuropathy with abnormal cutaneous innervation and nerve conduction. In this context, the effect of non-pharmacological management approaches like hand massage on nerve conduction, autonomic stress responses and skin inflammation deserve more attention. Few studies have evaluated the effect of short-term massage (3-4 weeks) on CKD-aP and showed improvement on outcomes evaluated 48 hours after the intervention. The study will be offered to all eligible CKD-aP patients; however, a balanced sex distribution is unlikely due to the male predominance in this population.
This study does not present any risks related to physical or psychological harm to participants. Participants will benefit from a promising non-invasive complementary therapy. Additionally, this study may contribute to a better understanding of the CKD-aP pathogenesis.
The primary objective of this study is to determine whether hand-massage by nurses has an effect on itch severity, Health Related Quality of Life (HRQoL) and sleep in hemodialysis patients with CKD-aP, at one and three months, as compared to usual care, and to explore the lived experience of patients receiving the hand-massage intervention.
A sequential multicenter Explanatory Mixed Methods design will be used. A randomized controlled trial design with two study arms will be conducted first (phase 1), followed by descriptive qualitative research (phase 2).
Phase 1: A total sample size of 54 participants (intervention group n=27; control group n= 27) will be recruted for the RCT. Phase 2: 12 participants from the intervention group who completed the intervention will be recruited to participate in the individual semi-structured interviews.
Participants randomized to the intervention group (n=27) will receive hand-massage that consists of 10 min hand-massage, three times/week for the first month, then once/week for the two consecutive months.
Participants assigned to the control group will receive uninterrupted attention from the nurse via a conversation without use of physical touch for 10 min, three times /week for the first month, then once/month for the two consecutive months.
Questionnaires will be administered by the research assistant who will be blinded to group allocations. Data will be collected at baseline, at one month and at three months, for all outcomes.
Phase 2: Participants from the intervention group who completed the hand-massage intervention will be recruited by the project manager or the research assistant to participate in individual semi-structured interviews.The interviews will be recorded, transcribed and coded using MaxQDA software, enabling a thematic content analysis.
Statistical analyses will be performed in Stata v16 on an intention-to-treat basis. Descriptive statistics will summarize baseline characteristics; between-group differences will be tested with t-tests Repeated measures ANOVA with one between-groups factor (group assignment) and one within-groups factor (time) will be carried out to assess changes in continuous outcome within-subjects across observations. Sex and gender will be recorded and reported in line with HRA/swiss-ethics guidance; subgroup analyses will be explored where numbers allow, acknowledging that balanced sex distribution is unlikely given the epidemiology of the dialysis population.
- Being tested
- Hand-massage
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Hand-massageOther
Hand-massage involves engagement with the patient using an enveloping contact on the whole hand and the forearm by means of rhythmic and circular movements, followed by an application of a hand cream or essential oil to the patient's forearm, wrist, palm and back of hand, and fingers using the same movements. The massage applies moderate pressure to the forearm, light gestures on the wrist and the back of the hand, and moderate pressure on the palm and fingers. It ends with a gradual slowing of the manipulations
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Hand-massage | Experimental | Participants randomized to the intervention group (n=27) will receive hand-massage that consists of 10 min hand-massage, two times/week for the first month, then once/week for the two consecutive months, at any time during the hemodialysis session. Receives: Other: Hand-massage |
| Control | No intervention | Participants assigned to the control group (n=27) will receive uninterrupted attention from the nurse via a conversation without use of physical touch for 10 min, two times /week for the first month, then once/month for the two consecutive months, at any time during the hemodialysis session |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Itch severity
The NRS will also be used to measure CKD-aP severity. It includes two questions. The first refers to the average itch intensity during the last 24h and the second refers to the WI-NRS and addresses the worst itch intensity experienced during the last 24h. VAS score ranges from 0 (not itchy) to 10 (extremely itchy); severity can be classified into five categories: 1) 0 =no itch, 2) 0.1-2.9 points =mild itch, 3) 3.0-6.9 points =moderate itch, 4) 7.0-8.9 points =severe itch, and 5) 9.0-10.0 points =very severe itch
Measured: at baseline, 1 month, 3 months
Itch severity and itch related quality of life
5D itch scale consists of 5-domains (Disability, Distribution, Duration, Degree, and Direction), 5 point-Likert scale designed to measure itch severity and itch-related QoL with an overall score range from 5 to 25. Lower scores indicate less itch severity and a better QoL.
Measured: at baseline, 1 month, 3 months
Health related quality of life (HRQoL)
The Kidney Disease Quality of Life Short Form (KDQOL-SF)™v1.2 questionnaire, a SF-36 derived short-form will be used to measure HRQoL. It is a self-administered 12-question survey assessing eight domains of physical (limitations in physical activities because of health problems, in social activities because of physical or emotional problems, in usual role activities because of physical health problems, bodily pain), and mental health (psychological distress and well-being, limitations in usual role activities because of emotional problems, vitality, and general health perceptions. Scores range between 0-100 and higher scores indicate better HRQoL.
Measured: at baseline, 1 month, 3 months
Sleep quality
Sleep quality will be assessed using the Kidney Disease Quality of Life Short form (KDQOL-SF)™v1.2 Sleep Subscale, composed of four items evaluating sleep quality, difficulty falling asleep, waking up during the night, and feeling rested upon waking. Scores for each item are transformed to a 0-100 scale, with higher scores indicating better sleep quality.
Measured: at baseline, 1 month, 3 months
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted31 Dec 2025
- Study start17 Dec 2025
- Primary completion30 Nov 2026 (estimated)
- Study completion30 Jun 2027 (estimated)
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for Chronic Kidney Disease Associated PruritusStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase N/A
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Single blind
- Who is masked
- Outcomes assessor
- Enrolment
- 54 participants (estimated)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- University of Applied Sciences of Western Switzerland
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Collaborators
- Swiss National Science Foundation
- Responsible party
- Principal investigator, Nancy Helou, University of Applied Sciences of Western Switzerland
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07312916
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- 131465
- Acronym
- MADRID
- Status last verified
- Mar 2026
- First submitted
- 17 Dec 2025
- Last updated
- 16 Mar 2026
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- Yes
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- No
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 16 Mar 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Effect of Hand Massage on Chronic Kidney Disease Associated Pruritus in Patients Receiving Hemodialysis: a Mixed Methods Study
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07312916
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- MADRID / 131465
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Recruiting
- Enrolment
- 54 participants (estimated)
- Lead sponsor
- University of Applied Sciences of Western SwitzerlandUniversity, hospital or other
- Collaborators
- Swiss National Science Foundation
- Study start
- 17 Dec 2025 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 30 Nov 2026 (estimated)
- Study completion
- 30 Jun 2027 (estimated)
- First posted
- 31 Dec 2025 (actual)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
Chronic Kidney Disease-Associated Pruritus (CKD-aP) affects about 25% of Swiss hemodialysis patients, most with moderate to severe itching. It negatively impacts sleep, quality of life, and survival. This mixed-methods study will investigate the effect hand massage delivered by nurses on the itch severity, health-related quality of life and sleep compared to usual care in patients on hemodialysis. Fifty-four patients will be randomized to receive either hand massage or verbal attention over three months. Quantitative data (NRS, 5D Itch Scale, KDQOL-SFv1.2) will be collected at baseline, one, and three months. Qualitative interviews with 12 participants who received the hand massage intervention, will explore their experiences. The intervention is safe, non-invasive, and may offer valuable insights into CKD-aP management and pathogenesis.
Detailed description
Chronic Kidney Disease Associated Pruritus (CKD-aP) represents a distressing skin itch symptom that affects 20-42% of adults on dialysis. We recently conducted the first CKD-aP prevalence study in Switzerland. Results showed that 25% of individuals on hemodialysis experience CKD-aP with 80% suffering from moderate to severe itching. CKD-aP is associated with sleep disturbances, compromised quality of life, social isolation and increased risk of hospitalization and death. CKD-aP may be related to increased uremic toxins, endogenous opioid or immune system dysregulation, peripheral neuropathy with abnormal cutaneous innervation and nerve conduction. In this context, the effect of non-pharmacological management approaches like hand massage on nerve conduction, autonomic stress responses and skin inflammation deserve more attention. Few studies have evaluated the effect of short-term massage (3-4 weeks) on CKD-aP and showed improvement on outcomes evaluated 48 hours after the intervention. The study will be offered to all eligible CKD-aP patients; however, a balanced sex distribution is unlikely due to the male predominance in this population.
This study does not present any risks related to physical or psychological harm to participants. Participants will benefit from a promising non-invasive complementary therapy. Additionally, this study may contribute to a better understanding of the CKD-aP pathogenesis.
The primary objective of this study is to determine whether hand-massage by nurses has an effect on itch severity, Health Related Quality of Life (HRQoL) and sleep in hemodialysis patients with CKD-aP, at one and three months, as compared to usual care, and to explore the lived experience of patients receiving the hand-massage intervention.
A sequential multicenter Explanatory Mixed Methods design will be used. A randomized controlled trial design with two study arms will be conducted first (phase 1), followed by descriptive qualitative research (phase 2).
Phase 1: A total sample size of 54 participants (intervention group n=27; control group n= 27) will be recruted for the RCT. Phase 2: 12 participants from the intervention group who completed the intervention will be recruited to participate in the individual semi-structured interviews.
Participants randomized to the intervention group (n=27) will receive hand-massage that consists of 10 min hand-massage, three times/week for the first month, then once/week for the two consecutive months.
Participants assigned to the control group will receive uninterrupted attention from the nurse via a conversation without use of physical touch for 10 min, three times /week for the first month, then once/month for the two consecutive months.
Questionnaires will be administered by the research assistant who will be blinded to group allocations. Data will be collected at baseline, at one month and at three months, for all outcomes.
Phase 2: Participants from the intervention group who completed the hand-massage intervention will be recruited by the project manager or the research assistant to participate in individual semi-structured interviews.The interviews will be recorded, transcribed and coded using MaxQDA software, enabling a thematic content analysis.
Statistical analyses will be performed in Stata v16 on an intention-to-treat basis. Descriptive statistics will summarize baseline characteristics; between-group differences will be tested with t-tests Repeated measures ANOVA with one between-groups factor (group assignment) and one within-groups factor (time) will be carried out to assess changes in continuous outcome within-subjects across observations. Sex and gender will be recorded and reported in line with HRA/swiss-ethics guidance; subgroup analyses will be explored where numbers allow, acknowledging that balanced sex distribution is unlikely given the epidemiology of the dialysis population.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Single blind (outcomes assessor)
- Number of arms
- 2
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Hand-massage | Experimental | Other: Hand-massageParticipants randomized to the intervention group (n=27) will receive hand-massage that consists of 10 min hand-massage, two times/week for the first month, then once/week for the two consecutive months, at any time during the hemodialysis session. |
| Control | No intervention | –Participants assigned to the control group (n=27) will receive uninterrupted attention from the nurse via a conversation without use of physical touch for 10 min, two times /week for the first month, then once/month for the two consecutive months, at any time during the hemodialysis session |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 18 years and older
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Not accepted
- Age groups
- Adult, Older adult
Key inclusion criteria (5 listed)
- Adults ≥18 years
- on hemodialysis ≥ three months
- able to communicate in French
- diagnosed with CKD-aP based on VAS
- signed informed consent
Key exclusion criteria (2 listed)
- Participants with cognitive impairment -
- participants who have been prescribed CKD-aP medications after enrollment in study.
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| Hand-massageHand-massage involves engagement with the patient using an enveloping contact on the whole hand and the forearm by means of rhythmic and circular movements, followed by an application of a hand cream or essential oil to the patient's forearm, wrist, palm and back of hand, and fingers using the same movements. The massage applies moderate pressure to the forearm, light gestures on the wrist and the back of the hand, and moderate pressure on the palm and fingers. It ends with a gradual slowing of the manipulations | Other | Hand-massage |
Primary outcome
Itch severity
Time frame: at baseline, 1 month, 3 months
The NRS will also be used to measure CKD-aP severity. It includes two questions. The first refers to the average itch intensity during the last 24h and the second refers to the WI-NRS and addresses the worst itch intensity experienced during the last 24h. VAS score ranges from 0 (not itchy) to 10 (extremely itchy); severity can be classified into five categories: 1) 0 =no itch, 2) 0.1-2.9 points =mild itch, 3) 3.0-6.9 points =moderate itch, 4) 7.0-8.9 points =severe itch, and 5) 9.0-10.0 points =very severe itch
Itch severity and itch related quality of life
Time frame: at baseline, 1 month, 3 months
5D itch scale consists of 5-domains (Disability, Distribution, Duration, Degree, and Direction), 5 point-Likert scale designed to measure itch severity and itch-related QoL with an overall score range from 5 to 25. Lower scores indicate less itch severity and a better QoL.
Health related quality of life (HRQoL)
Time frame: at baseline, 1 month, 3 months
The Kidney Disease Quality of Life Short Form (KDQOL-SF)™v1.2 questionnaire, a SF-36 derived short-form will be used to measure HRQoL. It is a self-administered 12-question survey assessing eight domains of physical (limitations in physical activities because of health problems, in social activities because of physical or emotional problems, in usual role activities because of physical health problems, bodily pain), and mental health (psychological distress and well-being, limitations in usual role activities because of emotional problems, vitality, and general health perceptions. Scores range between 0-100 and higher scores indicate better HRQoL.
Sleep quality
Time frame: at baseline, 1 month, 3 months
Sleep quality will be assessed using the Kidney Disease Quality of Life Short form (KDQOL-SF)™v1.2 Sleep Subscale, composed of four items evaluating sleep quality, difficulty falling asleep, waking up during the night, and feeling rested upon waking. Scores for each item are transformed to a 0-100 scale, with higher scores indicating better sleep quality.
Results and safety
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 16 Mar 2026.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: No
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Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part.
Michael Cordey, MS contact
4 sites in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing Hand-massage in people with Chronic Kidney Disease Associated Pruritus, run by University of Applied Sciences of Western Switzerland at 4 sites in Switzerland.
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 5 inclusion and 2 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: looking for participants now, as of the sponsor's last update on 16 Mar 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 4 sites in Switzerland. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
Are results available for this study?
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
Contact Nancy Helou, PhD (0787833827, nancy.helou@hesav.ch), or a site near the patient. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Itch severity (time frame: at baseline, 1 month, 3 months). The study lists 4 primary outcomes in all. It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 16 Mar 2026.